Handicappers give Helderberg the blues

MIKE Bass’s assistant trainer Robert Fayd’Herbe was not too bullish about the chances of the yard’s Gr 2 Betting World 1900 contender Helderberg Blue, although he said his Champions Season pipe opener in Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes had brought him on a lot.

Fayd'Herbe said, “He needed that last run very badly. The handicapper punished him too much for his J&B Met third place and at the weights he’s got no chance in the 1900. He’s not really a Greyville type, he’s a grinder but he did quicken well from a handy position in the Met.’’

The Jet Master gelding is a nervous sort, but his “new friend’’, the recently retired Epc Tale, accompanies him to the track in the mornings to keep him calm and he was looking in fine shape on Tuesday.

Another of the yard’s Jet Master geldings, Mountain Master, is the reserve runner for the 1900.

Fayd’herbe

He is difficult to place and Fayd'Herbe was not sure he would stay the 3 200m of the eLan Property Group Gold Cup, so races like the Campanajo 2200 on July day could be possible targets.

Fayd'Herbe was happy with dual Gr 1-winning filly Inara’s second place finish in the KRA Fillies Guineas and said, “She was always going to need it a bit and will come on from it. She will now go for the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 and then either the July or Garden Province.’’

He said that their crack sprinter Fly By Night had travelled up to Johannesburg well for the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint, but had then gone down very short and had taken no interest in the race.

They had trotted her out afterwards and nothing had been found wrong.

The problem was unrelated to her poor run in the Gr 1 Betting World Cape Flying Championships, for on that occasion she had "bumped a sesamoid" and had been a bit sore going into the race.

She has been fine at Summerveld and is on track for the Scottsville Festival of Speed meeting on May 23, where she holds entries in her likely target, the Gr 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Sprint, as well as in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint.

The yard's classy mare Hammie's Hooker thrives in KZN as she loves working on the lighter tracks. She has been doing just as well as she did last year, so will be a big runner in races like the Tibouchina and Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes.

Jet Air

Their two-year-old Visionnaire colt Jet Air has a bright future according to Fayd'Herbe, so they would avoid the tough Scottsville Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion over 1200m on May 23 in favour of the Gr 1 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m and the Gr 1 Premier's Champion Stakes.

He said that Ashton Park, who ran on well for third in the Drill Hall, might line up in the Tsogo Sun Sprint before running in the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1 600m on June 6.

The like of Shingwedzi, Saint Sophia and Counting Angels will likely take on staying races like the Gr 2 Gold Circle Oaks on June 21.

Paul Lafferty yard happy

The Paul Lafferty yard are happy with the preparation of their Gr 2 Betting World 1900 candidate Double Clutch. Double Clutch has won his last three races, all of them over 2 000m at Greyville, He is an entry in the country's premier race the Vodacom Durban July. Meanwhile, the Paul Lafferty-trained Equus Champion colt Harry's Son is healthy and sound but has had his last run in South Africa. He will be entering quarantine at the end of the first week of July and faces an arduous five month journey via Mauritius and Europe to the UAE. Another candidate for the Dubai string will be Vodacom Durban July entry Run Rhino Run, whom the yard believe has as good a chance as any of winning the Gr 1 Daily News 2000. Said Lafferty: “He has only been running over his minimum trip (1400-1600m) and all he wants is a bit of ground. Wait until he gets that because he is a really good horse.’’

Justin Snaith faces big weekend

NATIONAL Champion trainer Justin Snaith faces an important weekend at Greyville as he has two runners, Dynamic and Jet Explorer, in the Betting World 1900 on Friday night and his ruling Vodacom Durban July favourite Futura then has his Champions Season pipe opener on Sunday. On his 1900 contenders, Snaith said: “Both are in the best form they can be and have come on from their last runs. I just wish Dynamic had a better draw because I would otherwise be thinking he would win it.’’ On Futura, he said. “This will be a prep run and his record shows he seems to need his first run.’’ Snaith mentioned three other runners set do well - Bianzino, Seize the Throne (Friday) and Ash Cloud (Sunday).

Op for Louis The King, Killua Castle ready

THE Geoff Woodruff yard have operated on Louis The King in an attempt to not only resolve his racing issues but also to preserve his stud career. Meanwhile, they are also happy with their Gr 2 Betting World 1900 candidate Killua Castle. Louis The King’s below par recent form was due to him pulling a testicle upward, so this testicle has now been removed. Killua Castle will travel down to KZN today He is the joint best-weighted horse in the 1900 according to official merit ratings and is drawn well in six over a suitable distance with Donavan Mansour up. - all briefs - David Thiselton